Fence wire stringing and tensioning apparatus



Sept. 24, 1963 s. 5. DE FOREST I 3,104,863

FENCE WIRE STRINGING AND TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l 6 7 56 7a 23 I I I II II JNVENTOR. SHERWOOD s. MFG/P657 Fi 2 M5 mall? Sept. 24, 1963 s. 5. DE FOREST 7 3,104,863

FENCE WIRE STRINGING AND TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1961 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 uvmvron sl/sknma 5. a! wear ATTORNEY 1 I Sept. 24, 1963 s. $.05 FOREST 3,104,863 FENCE WIRE STRINGING AND TENSIONING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIVVE/VTOR. SHEEN 000 61 0E FOQEST 47 7' ORIVL Y United States Patent 3,104,863 FENCE WIRE SGING AND TENSEONING APPARATUS Sherwood S. De Forest, Coraopolis, Pa, assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Fan. 19, 1961, 52:. No. 33,706

3 Claims. (Cl. 254-64) This invention relates to the erection of wire fence and is directed, as indicated, to an apparatus for stringing fence wire along a line of fence posts and for applying tension to the wire prior to its being fastened to the posts.

The invention, more specifically, resides in a fence wire dispenser and a tensioning clamp that form part of a fence erecting machine, which has as its principal purpose the reduction of manual labor required for erecting fence on farms and along highways. Such machine, in a manner to be described, comprises a carriage that is drawn along a fence line by a tractor or other traction vehicle and includes a post driver for installing fence posts at spaced intervals along the fence line. The wire dispenser and tensioning clamp of this invention are mounted on the carriage and as it is pulled forwardly in a manner to be described fence wire fed from the dispenser travels through a pass in the tensioning clamp and is thus strung in position along previously installed fence posts. After stringing a desiredlength of wire, the tensioning clamp is actuated to clamp the wire against movement relative to the carriage so that subsequent forward movement of the carriage is effective to apply tension to the wire. After the required tension has been applied, the wire is fastened to the fence posts and the tensioning clamp is released for repeating the wire stringing and tensioning operations.

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a fence erecting machine which illustrates the manner in which the apparatus of this invention is utilized to string and tension fence wire along a line of fence posts;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the erecting machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view looking from the right of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary end view showing in elevation the clamping frame that is used in applying tension to fence wire, this view being taken in a direction looking from the rear of the machine and from the right of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the tensioning clamp shown in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI of FIGURE 4.

As indicated, the fence wire stringing and tensioning apparatus of this invention comprises a tension clamp 1 and a fence wire dispenser 2 that form part of a machine 3 for erecting wire fence, which with reference to FIG- URE l of the drawings comprises a carriage 4 that is pulled forwardly along a line of fence posts 5 by a tracfor or other traction vehicle 6 and on which the dispenser 2 and the tension clamp 1 are mounted. The carriage 4 further furnishes a support for a fence post driver 7 of conventional construction that is operated to install the fence posts 5 at spaced intervals along a fence line. As the carriage 4- is drawn forwardly by the tractor 6, fence wire, designated diagrammatically by the broken line 8, is pulled from the dispenser 2 and is strung along the posts 5. After stringing a desired length of fence wire in this manner, the clamp 1 is operated into clamp- 3,104,863 Patented Sept. 24, 1963' ing engagement with the wire 8 to hold it against movement with respect to the carriage 4 so that subsequent forward movement of the carriage 4 will apply tension to the wire 8. After being placed under the desired ten- 5 sion, the wire 8 is fastened to the posts 5.

As shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the carriage 4- comprises a pair of laterally spaced platforms 9 and in that have pivotal connections 11 at their forward ends to a draft bar 12. The clamp 1 and dispenser 2 are mounted on the platform 9 while the platform 10 is used to carry the fence line.

Theconnection of the draft bar 12 with the tractor 6 comprises a conventional three-point tractor hitch which posts 5 to be installed along a fence includes a pair of lift links 13 and a stabilizing link 14 (FIGURE 3). The lift links =13 are pivotally connected to lugs l5 on the draft bar 12, and the stabilizing link 14 has a pivotal connection 16 to the upper end of a frame 17 that is supported at its lower end on the bar 12.

When attached to a tractor, the links 13 and 14 furnish a support for the forward end of the carriage 4 which is supported for rolling movement over the ground by casters 1% at the trailing ends of. each of the platforms 9 and it When' disconnected from the tractor, the forward end of the carriage 4 is supported by detachable casters 19 which have upwardly extending stems 20 that are removably received brackets 21 secured to the draft bar 12.

Since the fence post driver 7 is conventional, it will be sumeient to indicate that it includes a fence post driving element 22 that is mounted for guided vertical movement 1n a guide housing 23 carried by the frame 17. Upon release from the position shown in FIGURE 3, the elethe carriage 4 to the next fence post driving position after each operation of the driver 7 to install a fence post.

The tension clamp 1 mentioned above comprises with reference to FIGURE 4 a pair of parallel and laterally spaced clamping bars 26 and 27 that are arranged on opposite sides of and define a vertical pass 28 for the wire 8 extending from the dispenser 2 to the posts 5. The clamping bars 26 and 27 are mounted on a rectangular frame 29 that is secured to the carriage platform 9 and is comprised of laterally spaced side channels 3!? and 31 and top and bottom channels 32 and 3-3. The clamping bar 26 is secured to the side channel 30 in a stationary position while the clamping bar 27 is supported for limited, lateral movement on the frame 29 between its side channels 30 and 31. For this purpose, the movable clamping bar 27 is secured to a T-shaped bar 34 (FIG- .URE 6) that has a tongue 35 at its upper end which pro: jects through a guide slot 36 in the top channel 32 The assembly of the clamping bar 27 and T-shaped bar 34 I is suspended on the frame 29 by a pin 37 that extends transversely with respect to the tongue 35 and hasopposite ends thereof supported on the upper surface 38 of the top channel 32. Movement of. the clamping bar '27 toward and away from the clamping bar 26 is guided by engagement of the tongue 35 in the slot 36 and by the bottom portion 29 of the bar '34 which extends into the space bet-ween and is guided by the side" flanges of the bottom channel 33.

The mechanism for moving the clamping bar 27 to and from a wire clamping position relative to the stationary clamping bar 26 comprises a pair of identical upper and lower toggle linkages 43. Each of the toggle linkages comprises a pair of links 41 and 42 that have their adjacent ends connected by a common pivot 43 and their other ends connected respectively with the frame 2d and the supporting bar 34 for the clamping bar 27. The links 42 as illustrated are turnbuckles that respectively have a pivot connection 44 at one end with a corner of the frame 29 and a clevis 45 at the opposite end thereof that is connected with the common pivot 43. Each link 41 has a cle is 46 at one end that is pivotally connected with the angle bar 34 and a tongue 47 at its other end which is received in the clevis 45 where it is connected with the common pivot 43. The common pivots 43 are spaced vertically relative to each other and their vertical spacing is controlled by a reversible fluid-pressure double acting extensible chamber motor 4d of conventional construction under the control of a reversing valve (not shown). The motor 48 comprises a cylinder 49 that has a clevis 59 at its lower end and a piston rod 51 projecting from its upper end. The clevis 50 is connected with the common pivot 43 of the lower toggle linkage 4d and the piston rod 51 is connected by a clevis 52 to the common pivot 43 of the upper toggle linkage 49.

FIGURE 4 shows the relative positions of the toggle linkages 40 and the clamping bars 26 and 27 when the piston rod 51 is retracted in the cylinder 49 and, in this position, the vertical pass 28 between the bars 26 and 27 is open and provides for free movement of the fence wire8 therethrough. When the motor 48 is operated 'to to the cylinder 49, the common pivot connections 43 are move the piston rod 51 to an extended position relative moved in opposite directions to increase their vertical spacing. This movement of the pivots 43 operates to straighten the toggle linkages 40 and move the clamping bar 27 toward the stationary clamping bar 26 and into clamping engagement with fence wire arranged in the pass 28. While the toggle linkages 4t) normally operate to maintain the clamping bar 27 in a vertical position parallel to the stationary bar 26, they provide a selfadjusting action in that a clamping action will be effected with the bar 27 in a canted position to compensate for unequal dimensions at the top and bottom of the fence wire in the pass 28. When the wire 8 is clamped between the bars 26 and 2,7 in this manner, subsequent forward movement of the carriage 4 will operate to place the wire extending rearwardly from the clamping frame 1 under tension.

To provide for stringing both woven fence wire and single or plural strands of wire such as barbed wire, the dispenser 2 on the platform 9 comprises a vertical reel 55 and a plurality of horizontal reels 56, preferably four in number as shown in FIGURE 3. The reel 55 is adapted to dispense a coil 57 of woven wire fencing and comprises a vertical stem 53 that extends axially of the coil 57 and has a flange 59 at its bottom on which the lower end of the coil 57 is supported. The stem 58 and its flange 59 are removably mounted on a turntable 60 that has a rotatable support on the platform 10. A locking pin 61 extending downwardly from the flange 59 is received in an opening in the turntable 66 to hold the reel against movement relative thereto. A pin 62 extending upwardly from a removable cap 63 on the upper end of the stem 58 holds the reel in a centered vertical position. The pin 62 is rotatable in holding brackets 64 that are detachably connected to a frame 65. The mounting of the reel 55 is such that woven fence wire being dispensed therefrom extends tangentially from the coil 57 through the vertical pass 28 between the clamping bars 26 and 27.

Each of the horizontal reels 56 is adapted to carry a spool of wire such as barbed wire. The wire dispensed from the reels 56 has its movement therefrom guided upwardly over guide sheaves 66 that are arranged at different vertical levels and then over vertically spaced sheaves 67 in a horizontal direction extending rearwardly witht respect to movement of the carriage 4. Vertical sheave mounting plates 68 and 69 on opposite sides of the wire pass 28 are mounted on the clamping frame 29 and are provided with vertically spaced openings 76) in which wire guide sheaves 71 are mounted at different vertical levels. The sheaves 71 are mounted on the bar 68 at one side of the pass 28 as shown in FIGURE 4 when fence wire from the coil 57 is being dispensed through the pass 28. The sheaves 71 furnish a guide support for the strands of wire travelling over the sheaves or. If the reel 55 is not being used to dispense fence wire, the guide sheaves 71 are mounted on the bar 69 so that they furnish a guide support for the separate strands of wire as they move through the pass 28. In such case, the clamping bar 27 may be operated to apply tension to the wire strands dispensed from the reels 56.

The reels 56 are connected for simultaneous rotation by chain and sprocket drives '72 that are connected in a centra1 braking unit 73 for retarding the dispensing rotation of the reels 56. The retarding action of the braking unit 73 applies uniform tension to the strands of wire dispensed from the reels 56 when the carriage 4 is pulled forwardly along a fence line. The tension applying action of the braking unit 73 is used when strands of wires are guided over the sheaves 71 when arranged asshown in FIGURE 4 and thus over a path that does not extend through the pass 28. The specific arrangement of the reels 56, their chain and sprocket drives 72, and the braking unit 73 form the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 87,833, filed February 8, 1961, to which reference is made for a more detailed showing and explanation.

In operation, the fence erecting machine 3 is drawn along a fence line by the tractor 6 and the post driver 7 is operated at spaced intervals along its path of travel to install fence posts 5. After installation of a corner or end post, wire on the reels 55 or 56 is threaded through the clamping pass 28 and attached to such corner or end post so that it is strung along the fence posts 5 as the forward movement of the erecting machine 3 is continued. When a sufiicient length of wire has been strung along the fence posts 5, the motor 48 of the clamping unit 1 is operated to straighten the toggle linkages 40 and to clamp the wire 8 securely between the clamping bars 26 and 27 as explained above. After clamping the wire 8 in this manner, the carriage is moved forwardly by the tractor 6 and this movement operates to place the fence Wire 8 under the required tension for fastening to the fence posts 5. After the fastening operation is completed, the motor 48 is then operated to move the clamping bar 27 out of engagement with the wire 8 so that it may travel freely through the pass 28 during continued movement of the machine 3 along a fence line. Compared to conventional practices, opera tion of the machine 3 in this manner reduces the manual labor required for the erection of wire fence and enables its erection by a crew of two men, one of whom operates the tractor 6 while the other operates the post driver and clamping frame 1 on the carriage 4.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A fence wire tensioning apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a first vertical clamping bar secured to said frame against movement relative thereto, a second vertical clamping bar supported for movement relative to said frame toward and away from said first clamping bar, said clamping bars defining a pass through which fence Wire to be tensioned extends, and means for moving said second bar to a wire clamping position relative to said first bar comprising a pair of vertically spaced toggle linkages, each of said linkages comprising a pair of links having a common pivotal connection joining adjacent ends thereof and separate pivotal connections joining their opposite ends respectively with said frame and with said movable clamping bar, said common pivotal connections being spaced vertically relative to each other, and means for moving said common pivotal connections toward and away from each other to control the spacing of said second clamping bar relative to said first clamping bar and for moving said second clamping bar to said clamping position.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized by said moving means comprising a fluid pressure expansible chamber motor having pivotal connections at opposite ends thereof with said common pivotal connections.

3. An apparatus for applying tension to fence wire strung along a line of fence posts and anchored to one of said posts comprising a carriage adapted to be pulled forwardly by a traction vehicle, a supporting frame on said carriage, a pair of clamping bars disposed vertically in positions spaced laterally with respect to the direction of carriage movement and defining a pass through which said fence wire extends, means mounting said bars on said frame for relative movement to and from a position in clamping engagement with the wire extending through said pass, and means actuating said bars to said clamping position to render forward movement of said carriage elfective to apply tension to said fence wire, one of said clamping bars having a stationary support on said frame and the other of said bars being supported thereon for movement in a direction transversely relatively to the fence wire extending therebetween, said bar actuating means comprising a pair of vertically spaced toggle linkages, each of said linkages comprising a pair of links having a common pivotal connection joining adjacent ends thereof and separate pivotal connections joining their opposite ends respectively with said frame and with said movable clamping bar, said common pivotal connections being spaced vertically relative to each other, and a fluid pressure extensible chamber motor for actuating said linkages to move said movable bar to said clamping position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 834,976 Hampton Nov. 6, 1906 1,523,061 Fauth Ian. 13, 1925 2,352,694 Dougherty July 4, 1944 2,874,915 Malone Feb. 24, 1959 2,914,270 Parker et al. Nov. 24, 19 59 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3 lO4,863 September 24, 1963 Sherwood SQ De Forest It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, lines 34 and 35, for "to the cylinder 49, the common pivot connections 43 are move the piston rod 51 to an extended position relative" read move the piston rod 51 to an extended position relative to the cylinder 49. the common pivot connections 43 are (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST Wu SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J I BRENNER.

Commissioner of Patents 

3. AN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TENSION TO FENCE WIRE STRUNG ALONG A LINE OF FENCE POSTS AND ANCHORED TO ONE OF SAID POSTS COMPRISING A CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO BE PULLED FORWARDLY BY A TRACTION VEHICLE, A SUPPORTING FRAME ON SAID CARRIAGE, A PAIR OF CLAMPING BARS DISPOSED VERTICALLY IN POSITIONS SPACED LATERALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF CARRIAGE MOVEMENT AND DEFINING A PASS THROUGH WHICH SAID FENCE WIRE EXTENDS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID BARS ON SAID FRAME FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT TO AND FROM A POSITION IN CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WIRE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PASS, AND MEANS ACTUATING SAID BARS TO SAID CLAMPING POSITION TO RENDER FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE EFFECTIVE TO APPLY TENSION TO SAID FENCE WIRE, ONE OF SAID CLAMPING BARS HAVING A STATIONARY SUPPORT ON SAID FRAME AND THE OTHER OF SAID BARS BEING SUPPORTED THEREON FOR MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY RELATIVELY TO THE FENCE WIRE EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, SAID BAR ACTUATING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED TOGGLE LINKAGES, EACH OF SAID LINKAGES COMPRISING A PAIR OF LINKS HAVING A COMMON PIVOTAL CONNECTION JOINING ADJACENT ENDS THEREOF AND SEPARATE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS JOINING THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS RESPECTIVELY WITH SAID FRAME AND WITH SAID MOVABLE CLAMPING BAR, SAID COMMON PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS BEING SPACED VERTICALLY RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, AND A FLUID PRESSURE EXTENSIBLE CHAMBER MOTOR FOR ACTUATING SAID LINKAGES TO MOVE SAID MOVABLE BAR TO SAID CLAMPING POSITION. 